Johnson Wins Again at Mid-Season Championships

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 28, 2014) One week after showing the TUNDRA Travelers how to get around Wisconsin’s Action Track, Edgerton’s Casey Johnson returned his mount to victory lane. Johnson got to the front of the River’s Edge Farm Market Mid-Season Championship 60 lap Late Model feature and held off a hard charging Dale Nottestad to take the checkers and get the win. The win marks Johnson’s third feature victory in 2014 at Jefferson Speedway.

Tyler Peterson and Andrew Kiedrowski led the 22 car field to green. Before they could complete the opening circuit, the duo made contact resulting in Kiedrowski spinning in turns three and four and collecting a large number to competitors in the process. After the mess was cleared, Michael Grueneberg and Stephen Scheel made up the revamped front row as racing got underway. Scheel took the early lead while Grueneberg tried to fight back on the low side. On lap five, Grueneberg dropped back into a battle for second with Luke Westenberg as Scheel pulled into sole possession of the top spot. Westenberg slipped by Grueneberg and pulled alongside Scheel on lap seven as Brandon Pendleton moved into third. By lap nine, Johnson was up to fourth and challenging the leaders while Westenberg and Scheel battled at the front. On lap 13, Scheel regained the point allowing Johnson to slip past Pendleton and alongside Westenberg for second. Johnson claimed second a lap later and quickly began to challenge Scheel for the lead. After a brief battle, Johnson secured the top spot on lap 18 with Scheel now second followed by Pendleton. After another caution on lap 22, Nottestad began his assault on the top five. Nottestad quickly moved toward the front as Johnson opened up a healthy advantage over the rest of the pack. By lap 27, Nottestad was in second and looking to close on the leader. Lap after lap, Nottestad tried to chip away at Johnson’s advantage until finally catching him with ten laps remaining. But Johnson saved just enough to hold off the current point leader and stay out front to see the checkers first. Nottestad settled for second with Scheel, Zack Riddle and Grueneberg rounding out the top five.

Stoughton’s Jim Taylor held off the advances of Mark Deporter to claim the win in the 30 lap Sportsman Mid-Season Championship feature. Taylor and Adam Bleskan brought the field to green with Taylor taking early control on lap one. Seth Lootans pulled into second just before the sole caution of the race waved on lap two. As racing resumed, Tony Ciano began to challenge Lootans for second with Taylor still showing the way. On lap six, Ciano wrestled second away from Lootans with Deporter following into the third spot. Deporter moved into a battle with Ciano for second allowing Taylor to enjoy a good lead in front of them. On lap 14, Deporter cleared for the second spot and began to close in on Taylor at the point. By lap 20, Deporter was on Taylor’s rear bumper looking to steal the top spot for himself. Deporter drew even with the leader with five laps to go as they raced door to door. As they flew past the white flag, Taylor held enough of a lead to pull down in front of Deporter as they entered turn one. Taylor stayed strong over the final lap to cross the stripe first and get the win. Deporter was second followed by Steven Sauer, Lootans and Ciano.

Seth Reamer of Waupun claimed victory in the 25 lap International Mid-Season Championship feature. Jason Uttech took the initial lead on lap one from the pole with Keith Bell up to second. A caution on lap five slowed the action and set up a double file restart with Uttech and Bell making up the front row. The duo battled side by side as racing resumed with neither willing to give up ground to the other. Bell eventually gained control of the point on lap ten with Joe Cross now in third and Reamer up to fourth. Reamer dropped to the low side of the speedway as he passed Cross for third. Uttech returned to the inside of Bell as they fought for the lead with Reamer now joining the battle. Reamer stayed on the low side, pulling even with Uttech in a three way battle for the lead. Reamer and Uttech emerged wheel to wheel with five laps to go. Reamer cleared for the top spot on lap 22 and set sail on his way to the checkers for the win. Uttech finished second followed by John Handeland, Bell and Mike Lambert.

A thrilling finish to the 30 lap Hobby Stock feature ended with Dylan Buckingham of Whitewater beating Bobby Selsing Jr by inches to seal the win. Scott Riemer took the early lead on lap one with Buckingham charging up alongside him entering turn three. After a brief battle, Buckingham moved into sole possession of first on lap three and quickly began to pull away from the field. The battle for second ensued behind with Riemer trying to hang on while being joined by Lucas Buckingham and Cody Buchs. Buckingham and Buchs moved around Riemer as they continued to fight for position on lap nine. The pair of drivers made contact on lap 14 resulting in a caution which eliminated Dylan Buckingham’s large lead. Both Lucas Buckingham and Buchs were finished for the evening putting Selsing right on Lucas Buckingham’s rear bumper for the restart. As racing resumed, Selsing began searching for a way around Buckingham as he tried everything he could. Lap after lap, Selsing tried to draw even with the leader as they touched several times. As they raced into turn one on the final lap, Selsing and Buckingham touched getting Buckingham loose and allowing Selsing to slip past. But Buckingham returned the favor as they flew through turns three and four and came to the checkers side by side. The pair of drivers swapped heavy paint down the front stretch coming to the stripe with Buckingham holding a very slight advantage to take the win. Selsing finished second by inches behind Buckingham with Dustin Ward, Phil Wuesthoff and Chester Williams completing the top five.

Watertown’s Bill Reynolds picked up the 25 lap Mid-Season Championship Road Warrior feature win. Jordan Lamb took the lead on lap one from the pole with Tadd Douglas up to second. Lamb continued to lead while Douglas battled Scott Hoeft and Tom Dorn for the second spot with Reynolds watching from fifth. Douglas and Dorn emerged side by side for second allowing Reynolds to get by Hoeft for fourth on lap six. Reynolds drove to the high side to steal third from Douglas on lap seven. Reynolds cleared and crossed over to the low side of Dorn to second on lap nine. Reynolds wasted little time behind Lamb, drawing even on lap ten and clearing for the lead a lap later. Reynolds hung on through two cautions in the closing laps to get the win with Bill Sweeney, Hoeft, Chris Gottschalk and Kenny Storkson rounding out the top five.

Defending Bandit champion, Nick Schmidt of Oak Creek, captured the 20 lap Mid-Season Championship feature in his division. Paul Reagles and Sueter Bennett led the field to green with Reagles taking command on lap one. Tyler Deporter moved in to second before a caution slowed the field on lap two. As racing resumed, Deporter and Brandon DeLacy fought for second with Reagles still showing the way. On lap five, DeLacy was forced to pull off the racing surface with problems allowing Schmidt to fire up alongside Deporter for second. Schmidt cleared Deporter on lap eight. Schmidt took to the high groove as he looked to get by Reagles on the point. Schmidt cleared for the top spot on lap 11 as was never seriously challenged on his way to the checkers for the win. Deporter was second followed by Noah Pankow, Josh Marx and Dennis Wuesthoff.

Next Saturday, July 5, is the 2014 Jefferson Speedway Summer Rumble sponsored by Morrison’s Auto Parts and Glassworks of Wisconsin highlighted by twin 35 lap Late Model features. But before that is round two of the Tournament of Destruction with fireworks on Thursday, July 3. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit www.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.